[Comparative study of shaping ability between rotary ProTaper and Flexofile].

Area of Science:

• Endodontics
• Dental Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Root canal preparation is crucial for endodontic treatment success.
• Evaluating the shaping ability of different rotary instrument systems is essential for optimizing clinical outcomes.
• Simulated resin canals provide a reproducible model for comparing instrument performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the shaping ability of rotary ProTaper and Flexofile instruments in simulated resin root canals.
• To assess working length maintenance, canal aberration, instrument failure, and canal curvature changes.

Main Methods:

• Forty simulated resin root canals were prepared using either rotary ProTaper (crown-down) or Flexofile (balanced force) techniques.
• Working length, canal aberration, and instrument failure were recorded.
• Canal curvature changes and resin removal were quantified using Image Pro Plus 5.0.

Main Results:

• ProTaper instruments maintained working length more effectively than Flexofile.
• Canals prepared with ProTaper showed significantly better preservation of curvature and fewer aberrations (P < 0.01).
• ProTaper instruments exhibited superior centring ability.

Conclusions:

• Rotary ProTaper instruments possess superior shaping ability in simulated resin root canals compared to Flexofile.
• ProTaper's ability to maintain canal anatomy and working length makes it a favorable choice for root canal preparation.